Ghost of a Chance by Charles G. McGraw, Mark Garland Page A

like the idea as well,” Paris said, smiling like the others.
    “I’m inclined to think there is another catch somewhere,” Neelix said, though his tone had softened.
    “We are hiding nothing, Commander Chakotay,” Tassay said.
    “Nothing at all.”
    “When will your people be ready to begin working with the Televek?”
    Jonal asked.
    “My crew is ready now.”
    “Wonderful, and I’m sure you’ll come to see this as a sensible decision,” Jonal exclaimed to one and all. “And you must admit, it does sound like a first step toward a possible eventual sharing of more… unfamiliar information, does it not?”
    Chakotay reminded himself of his discussions with Janeway and Tuvok, but this was the path that had been set before him, the only clear direction. There might not be another. “I cannot predict the future, but at present I think this limited agreement can be made,” he said in answer.
    “More than enough for now,” Tassay said with enthusiasm, and Chakotay thought for a moment she might reach out and give him a hug.
    Jonal was the first to stand. “We will inform Gantel at once.”
    “By all means,” Chakotay said, rising too, leading everyone back out onto the bridge. Within moments contact with the Televek had been reestablished. Jonal explained everything perfectly. With very little discourse, the Televek agreed.
    “But there may be a temporary… problem,” Gantel said, addressing Chakotay. “I will need a moment. Can you stand by?”
    “Of course,” Chakotay said, more than a little curious. He stood at the center of the bridge for several moments. No one in the room said a word. Just as he was beginning to grow impatient, the Televek’s voice sounded on the comm once more.
    “As I suspected, a minor delay, Commander,” Gantel began. “You must understand, the cruiser you see before you is not a merchant vessel, and we are not presently carrying in our inventory anything quite like the equipment you need. However, your needs, and of course ours, can still be met. You have my word as third director. I will explain in detail shortly. In the interim, you may of course transmit the specifications for your EPS flow regulator. In return, you will be sent all of the sensor data we have collected on Drenar Four. We will work from there.”
    “Shortly?” the commander repeated, skeptical.
    “Very shortly.”
    “Very well.”
    “Good!” Tassay exclaimed, taking Chakotay’s forearm gently in one hand.
    “Can we get you something to eat or drink?” Paris asked, speaking to Mila at first. Then he looked up. “Any of you? I mean, this might take a while.”
    “Yes,” Tassay said happily, “that would be wonderful.”
    “If you don’t mind, of course,” Jonal specified. Then he moved toward Chakotay and quietly took the commander briefly aside.
    “Is there any chance the captain could join us again?”
    “I’ll take you to our dining area,” Chakotay said. “But I doubt Captain Janeway will be there. Unless she manages to free herself of her present duties.”
    Jonal shrugged somewhat dourly. “I see.”
    Chakotay gestured to the security guards as they left the bridge, indicating they should come along.
    ***
    B’Elanna Torres hurried up the hallway on her way to the galley.
    She had put off eating anything for hours now, but hunger was beginning to take its toll. She needed a little something to stave off the jitters, something she could eat quickly. Repairs were proceeding, everyone was still leaping through hoops, trying to make some real progress, but she hated the thought of taking a break herself.
    Finally, though, her needs were beginning to affect her disposition.
    She had a bowl of oatmeal in mind, or perhaps a cold sandwich.
    She’d long preferred human food to Klingon, just as she had always chosen to focus more on her human half than on her Klingon heritage.
    Most human dishes, like human beings themselves, were softer and easier to stomach. And in some cases